On September 11, 2001, there were a series of four coordinated attacks against the United States by a known terrorist group, Al-Qaeda, in New York City and Washington, D.C. (Associated Press, 2003). These attacks changed the security of aviation throughout the nation. After 9/11, the image of general aviation (GA) was tarnished because the 9/11 hijackers trained in small GA aircraft in the United States (Elias, 2010). Even though the hijackers trained on GA aircraft the area of aviation that experienced the largest overhaul is screening at public airports. Many experts say that since general aviation airports vary intensely in characteristics it would be difficult to implement intense security to all of these airports because they are all so different (Elias, 2010). The physical security of GA airports and aircraft has been left up to the public, such as aircraft owners, and pilots instead of being regulated by the FAA (Elias, 2010). Authorities are concerned that implementing too strong of security could impose too much on small airport operators, or fail to lessen the risks that GA already imposes. There have been many incidents and accidents that have occurred due to lack of security in GA airports, and experts still believe security does not need increased. This paper will put forward the risks that general aviation operations impose and reasons why there should be stronger security measures implemented by the government to help mitigate these risks.
General Aviation encompasses about 54 % of all civil aviation within the United States.5 There are a variety of different aircraft types, but also may different reasons for each aircraft to be flying. The number of registered GA aircraft in the U.S. is around 220,000, which has ...
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...ap: A Hard Look at the Soft Spots in our Civilian
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On the morning of the 25th of September an employee with Big Island Air who said they had seen the pilot that morning when he arrived at the airport, mentioned that he appeared to look rested and very alert. There were two flights that were scheduled for the pilot on that day. The first of his flights was a sightseeing tour that was scheduled to depart at 7am followed by the second flight also a sightseeing tour that was scheduled to depart at around 4:20pm. The second flight ultimately ended in the deaths of ten people that day.
This paper describes our nation and the worlds mindset about airline terrorism before 9/11 and airline terrorism today. This remains a very real and deadly subject even though we don’t have as many incidents occurring at this moment in time. Still the potential for countless lives being lost in an aircraft accident from the actions of a terrorist or terrorist organization is still very real and innocent families across this nation and abroad remain the targets. Additionally, it will show that the security measures in place at airports prior to 9/11 were far less adequate, than today, and personnel responsible for airport security at the gates and throughout were either poorly trained or not trained at all when it came to hijackers and terrorist. This paper will also identify the extensive security measures, rules and training that have been put into place, which helped to curtail acts of terrorism onboard airliners.
After 9/11 there was a great increase in security nationwide. One major example of this is the number of agencies created as a result of 9/11. Among these agencies include the creation of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration), the DHS (The Department of Homeland Security), the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and lastly the massive advancement of the US Coast Guard. Every one of the budgets of these agencies has doubled since 9/11. The creation of the transportation and security administrations primary goal is to improve the safety of all American Citizens traveling by plane. The TSA started implementing, new policies and new technological advancements.
As the 19 hijackers made their way through the three East coast airports, on September 11, 2001, planning on executing the world’s worst terrorist attack in history, they test the U.S airport security. At almost every step along the way, airport security posed no challenge to the 19 terrorist hijackers. Not to their ability to purchase tickets, to pass security checkpoints while carrying knives, and other objects that be used as weapons on them. Not one step of airport security posed as a challenge or threat to the terrorist. If airport security was more advanced and carful as it is now, the hijackers would have never made their way on to the
Seaney, Column By Rick, and Ceo Of Farecompare. "Post 9/11 Flight Security: When Increased Safety Isn't More Effective." ABC News. ABC News Network, 09 Sept. 2011. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
“What time should we leave? Two hours in advance? Three? Four?” Millions of people ask these questions each year before boarding a plane. Between driving, security, walking to the gate, and getting settled, boarding a plane exhausts travelers. But out of all of these different activities, one frustrates and restrains travelers the most: TSA security. People ask why they need all this security, complain about the inconvenience it causes, and ultimately annoys people to no end. Created after 9/11, Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, nationalized airport security, increased screening duration, and supposedly increases security on flights. However, statistics say these added security measures never come to fruition and potentially cost more lives than they save.
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The evolution of airport security would evolve over time just as airline safety. There would be a series of unfortunate events that would affect the way all airports operated. Prior to these events passengers would simply show up with their luggage and ticket and get on the plane, no screening or baggage checks were conducted. The FAA and the Federal Government had taken many steps by passing numerous pieces of legislation to address aircraft safety to reduce the number of accidents; however aircraft security was never addressed in all previously passed legislation. As the number of air travelers increased year by year, so did the potential for crimes against the airlines. These crimes included aircraft bombing and hijackings.
Before the dreaded day of September 11, 2001, a person or persons flying could be escorted to their gate by family members and loved ones. The thought that a gun would or could be brought on board of an airplane and used as a means to hijack an airplane never crossed a passenger’s mind. Isaac Yeffet said, “After Lockerbie, everyone thought; now we’ve learned the lesson of how to be proactive instead of being reactive. Unfortunately, September 11 came and we know the result. Thousands of people lost their lives. Security totally failed, not at one airport, at three different airports around the country.” Due to the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the United States government decided airport security needed to be updated and become more stringent. These updates included a formation of TSA and Sky Marshalls, tighter security measures, and policy changes.
Lack of high monitored airport security is another main cause of the attack on September 11th. Security mainly consisted of x-ray machines, metal detectors, and potential checks from airport security guards. Passengers could board planes wit...
Elias, Bartholomew. "Aviation Security: Outlook." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 2 May 2014.
The United States spends billions on transportation safety to prevent terrorist or any type of attack on American citizens. Airport security are one of the major problems that the government faces, and the solution is the TSA, also known as the Transportation Security Administration. Passengers believe the TSA is effective in abolishing problems such as terrorism, however, this is not the case. Airport security is not effectively protecting the passengers which is shown through the negligence and violations of the TSA employees, ineffective profiling techniques used by the TSA, and unqualified workers that are placed to protect citizens.
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011 prompted the world to reevaluate and drastically modify airport and airline security. “Four targets had been chosen, all iconic American buildings that would send a clear message of the depth of their hatred for the United States. All four planes crashed, killing all on board—terrorists, crew members, and passengers, along with hundreds who were killed inside the structures, on the ground, and the men and women who ran into collapsing buildings in an effort to try and save others” (Smutz 1). As Jason Villemez said “the decade after the 9/11 attacks reshaped many facets of life in America” (Villemez 1). Before the attacks, people did not think that large scale hostility towards innocent people in our country was remotely possible. Ever since that fateful moment, citizens in America are on their toes every day worrying about another attack happening. United States citizens have had to adapt and change in response to this fear of further terrorist assault on our country. One of the ways they have adapted is by changing their means of security concerning airline travel.
The general aviation business can also contribute greatly to the economy of the area surrounding an airport used by general aviation aircraft. A recent study done by the General Aviation Manufacturer Association showed that general aviation contributed more than $150 billion to the U.
Aviation security plays a vital role in the aviation industry, from protecting passengers, staff and aircraft. The aviation industry, more specifically airports and aircraft, make prime targets for malicious harm, crime, and other threats because of the vast amount of people that use air transportation. Although there are many risks that are posed to the aviation industry, we can only hope to have learned from the history of airport bombings, hijackings, and sabotage terrorist attacks. The aviation industry faces threats at each step of the journey, but assessing the risks properly will help deter and mitigate these threats. Conducting risk analysis in today’s aviation security is not only important to the aviation industry, but it is important